Windshield wiper apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to a windshield wiper apparatus for wiping a windshield of an automotive vehicle. The windshield-wiping apparatus includes a wiper having an elongated arm and a wiper blade assembly carried by the arm at its upper end and an actuating mechanism for reciprocating the wiper across the windshield between first and second positions. The actuating mechanism includes a dual cam track arrangement for guidably supporting the windshield wiper and which causes the wiper to be moved vertically while simultaneously being generally horizontally reciprocated whereby the resultant path of movement of the wiper blade assembly is linear and transversely across the windshield.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Eric G. Parker Kettering, Ohio [21]Appl. No. 79,822 [22] Filed Oct. 12, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972[73] Assignee General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

[54] WINDSHIELD WIPER APPARATUS 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 15/250.21, 15/2503, 74/42 [51] Int. Cl A471 1/03, B60s 1/32[50] Field of Search l5/250.2l, 250.17, 250.2, 250.25, 250.27, 250.3;74/42, 23, 57

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,661,388 3/1928 Sather15/250.21

Primary Examiner- Peter Feldrnan Attorneys-W. E. Finken and W. A.Schuetz ABSTRACT: in a preferred form, this disclosure relates to awindshield wiper apparatus for wiping a windshield of an automotivevehicle. The windshield-wiping apparatus includes a wiper having anelongated arm and a wiper blade assembly carried by the arm at its upperend and an actuating mechanism for reciprocating the wiper across thewindshield between first and second positions. The actuating mechanismincludes a dual cam track arrangement for guidably supporting thewindshield wiper and which causes the wiper to be moved vertically whilesimultaneously being generally horizontally reciprocated whereby theresultant path of movement of the wiper blade assembly is linear andtransversely across the wipdshield PATENI EU Jun I ma INVENTOR. rzc 6.Parker AT OPI IEY WINDSHIELD WIPER APPARATUS The present inventionrelates to a window-wiping apparatus, and more particularly to awindshield-wiping apparatus for moving a wiper in a linear pathtransversely across a windshield of an automotive vehicle.

Heretofore, windshield-wiping systems for moving a windshield wipertransversely across the outer surface of a windshield have beenprovided. These known prior systems have included carriages which werehorizontally reciprocated by rotatable screws or other drive mechanismsto move a wiper carried thereon transversely of the windshield. Knownmechanisms have also included a drive means for oscillating a wiperwhile simultaneously moving the wiper vertically to achieve these ends.Examples of these windshield wiper systems are shown in US. Pat. Nos.2,845,803 and 2,607,065.

The present invention provides a novel transverse windshield wipersystem which is of an economical construction and which includes a dualcam track arrangement for guiding the movement of a windshield wiper asit is reciprocated to cause the wiper blade in engagement with thewindshield to move in a linear path transversely across the windshield.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is to providea new and improved window-wiping apparatus in which an actuatingmechanism for reciprocating a window wiper across the outer surface ofthe window between first and second positions includes a dual cam orguide track arrangement which effects movement of the wiper verticallyas it is being horizontally reciprocated whereby the resultant path ofmovement of the wiper blade is linear and transversely across thewindow.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedwindshield wiper apparatus having a windshield wiper, an arcuate camtrack disposed below the windshield, a linear cam track disposed belowthe arcuate cam track, a pair of cam followers or rollers which arepivotally connected to the windshield wiper and received within thearcuate and linear cam tracks and a drive means for reciprocating thewiper across the outer surface of the windshield between first andsecond positions during running operation, and in which the arcuate andlinear guide track cause the wiper to be moved vertically as it is beinggenerally horizontally reciprocated across the windshield so that thewiper is caused to be moved in a linear path across the outer surface ofthe windshield.

The present invention further resides in various novel constructions andarrangement of parts, and further objects, novel characteristics andadvantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which it relates and from the following detailed descriptionof the illustrated embodiment thereof made with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in whichsimilar reference numerals or characters are employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an automotive vehicleembodying the novel windshield-wiping apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 2--2 ofFIG. 1.

The present invention provides a novel window-wiping apparatus A forwiping a window of an automotive vehicle. Although the novelwindow-wiping apparatus A could be used for wiping various windows of anautomotive vehicle, it is particularly useful for wiping frontwindshields of an automotive vehicle 12 having a center post 13 forseparating the front windshields 10 and in which the windshields areflat or relatively flat. Accordingly, for purposes of illustration anddescription it will be herein described as being used for the latterpurpose.

The windshield wiping apparatus A comprises, in general, a pair ofwipers 15 which are adapted to be reciprocated across the windshields 10between first and second end positions 17 and 18 during runningoperation; dual cam track arrangements or guide means 20 includingarcuate guide tracks 2-1 and linear guide tracks 22 for guiding themovement of the wipers 15 so that they move in a linear pathtransversely across the windshields; and a drive means 25 operativelyconnected with the wipers 15 for reciprocating the same between theirfirst and second positions.

The windshield wipers 15 could be of any suitable construction and eachis here shown as comprising an elongated wiper arm 30 havingspring-hinged connected inner and outer sections 31 and 32 for biasing awiper blade assembly 33 against the outer surface of the windshield 10.The wiper blade assemblies 33 are preferably pivotally connected to theupper end of the outer arm sections 32 by a pivot pin means 34 so as tobe pivotally movable relative to the wiper arms about axes which extendgenerally normal to the plane of the windshield. The locations of thepivotal connection is such that a greater portion of the length of thewiper blade assemblies 33 is above the pivot pin means 34 than below it.The wiper blade assemblies are respectively caused to pivot relative tothe wiper arms in counterclockwise and clockwise direction when moved inrightward and leftward directions across the windshield due to thefrictional forces encountered by the wiper blades. The extent of thispivotal movement is limited by depending end stops (not shown) on theupper wiper arm sections 32 and the wiper blade assemblies will bedisposed generally parallel to the center post 13 and end posts 36 whenat the end of their strokes. This type of wiper arm to the wiper bladeassembly connection is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,008,171 dated Nov. 14,1961. Altemately, articulating arms having one end connected to thewiper blade assemblies 33 and their other end connected to the links 64,65 could be employed for pivoting the wiper blade assemblies 33 relativeto the wiper arms when the latter is reciprocated.

The wipers 15 are supported and guided for movement by the dual camtrack arrangements 20. Since the dual cam track arrangements 20 forsupporting and guiding the wipers 15 for the left and right windshieldsare of identical construction, only the dual cam track arrangement 20for guiding the wiper 15 for wiping the rightmost windshield, as viewedin the drawings, will be described in detail, and corresponding parts ofthe other dual cam track arrangement will be given the same referencenumerals.

The dual cam track arrangement 20 is supported by a panel or support 35of the vehicle 12 and is disposed beneath the lower edge of thewindshield 10. The dual cam track arrangement 20 comprises an upper orarcuate cam track 21 which is reverse C-shaped, as viewed in crosssection, as shown in FIG. 2. The arcuate cam track 21 is generallyU-shaped, as viewed in front elevation (see FIG. 1), and its midportion21a is disposed further below the lower edge of the windshield 10 thanits end portions 21b. The dual cam track arrangement 20 further includesa second or linear cam track 22 disposed below the arcuate cam track 21and which extends from the midportion 21a of the arcuate cam track 21vertically downward. The cam track 22 has a cross-sectional shape thesame as that of the cam track 21.

The windshield wiper 15 is supported and guided for movement by the dualcam track 20 via first and second cam followers or rollers 40 and 41.The roller 40 is rotatably journaled on a pivot pin means or shaft 42,the shaft 42 in turn being rotatably journaled to the inner section 31of the wiper arm 30. The roller 40 is rollably received within the camtrack 21. The roller 40 has a diameter which is greater than the widthof a side slot 210 of the cam track 21 through which the shaft 42extends. The guide track 21 has a pair of inturned flanges 21d, whichdefine the slot 21c, for retaining the roller 40 within the guide track21. The roller 41 is pivotally or rotatably connected to the lower endof the inner section 31 of the wiper arms 30 by a pivot pin means orshaft 44. The roller 41 is rollably received within the linear guidetrack 22 and in the same manner that the roller 40 is received withinthe arcuate guide track 21.

The wipers 15 extend through a narrow slot 50 extending transversely ofthe vehicle 12. The slot 50 is defined by a hood or front panel 52 whoserearward edge 52a is spaced forwardly of the windshields 10.

The windshield wiper 15 is adapted to be reciprocated transverselyacross the outer surface of the windshield between its first and secondpositions 17 and 18 by the drive means 25. The drive means 25 comprisesa unidirectional electric motor and gear reduction unit 60 having anoutput shaft 61. Energization and deenergization of the motor 60 iscontrolled by a conventional manipulatable wiper switch (not shown). Theoutput shaft 61 is fixed to one end of a crank arm 62. The other end ofthe crank arm 62 is pivotally connected via a ball and socket jointmeans 63 to one end of drive links 64 and 65. The other ends of thedrive links 64 and 65 are respectively pivotally connected to the pivotpin means 42 of the left and right wipers 15.

When the electric motor 60 is energized the output shaft 61 is caused tobe rotated in the direction of the arrow 70. Rotation of the outputshaft in the direction of the arrow 70 causes the crank arm to berotated in this direction, which in turn causes the links 64 and 65 tobe reeiprocated. Reciprocation of the links 64 and 65 causes the wipersto be reciprocated between their first and second positions. As thewipers 15 are being moved between their positions the rollers 40 and 41are caused to follow the contours of the cam tracks 21 and 22. Thiscauses the wipers 15 to be moved vertically downwardly as they are beingmoved toward the right from their first position towards their secondposition until the rollers 40 reach the midpoint of the arcuate camtracks 21 and then the wipers are caused to be moved vertically upwardduring the latter portion of this stroke. The simultaneous movement ofthe wipers 15 generally horizontally of the windshields 10 andvertically with respect to the windshields 10 causes the wiper bladeassemblies 33 to traverse a path which is linear and transversely acrossthe windshield.

The advantages of the novel windshield-wiping apparatus A is that longerwiper blades can be employed as compared to a conventional oscillatorywiper system and that virtually all of the area of the windshields canbe wiped. This maximizes visibility therethrough.

When running operation is no longer desired the electric motor 60 willbe deenergized. However, the motor 60 preferably includes a conventionalparking switch which maintains the motor 60 energized until the wipersreach their park position, which is their rightmost or second position,as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. In this position the wipers 15 willbe located closely adjacent the center post 13 and the rightmost endpost or pillar 36, as viewed in FIG. 1, so as to be out of view.

Although the illustrated embodiment thereof has been described in greatdetail, it should be apparent that certain modifications, changes, andadaptations may be made in the illustrated embodiment, and that it ishereby intended to cover all such modifications, changes and adaptationswhich come within the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A window-wiping apparatus for wiping a window of an automotivevehicle comprising: a wiper having an elongated wiper arm and a wiperblade assembly carried by the arm at its upper end; and an actuatingmechanism for reciprocating the wiper across the outer surface of thewindow between first and second positions and with the path of movementof the wiper blade assembly being linear and transversely of the window,said actuating mechanism comprising a first cam track disposed below thewindow and whose midportion is spaced further below the window than itsend portions and a second cam track disposed below the first cam trackand extending generally vertically with respect to the window, first andsecond cam followers pivotally connected to said wiper arm and guidablyreceived in said first and second cam tracks, and a drive meansoperatively connected to said wiper arm for moving the wiper between itsfirst and second positions said first and second cam followers followingthe contours of said first and second cam tracks to cause the wiper tobe moved vertically as it is moved between its positions whereby thewiper blade assembly moves in a linear path transversely across thewindow.

2. A window-wiping apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said firstcam track is arcuate and said second cam track is linear.

3. A window-wiping apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said firstand second cam followers are rollers which are rollably received in saidfirst and second cam tracks.

4. A windshield-wiping apparatus for wiping a pair of separatedwindshields of an automotive vehicle comprising: first and second spacedwipers having elongated wiper arms and wiper blade assemblies carried bythe arms at their upper ends; first and second arcuately extending camtracks disposed below the windshields and having their midportion spacedfurther below the windshields than their end portions; first and secondlinear cam tracks respectively disposed below said first and secondarcuate cam tracks, said first and second linear cam tracks extendingvertically downward from the midportion of said first and second arcuatecam tracks, respectively, a first roller pivotally connected to saidfirst and second wiper arms and which are rollably received within saidfirst and second arcuate cam tracks, respectively, a second rollerpivotally connected to said first and second wiper arms at their lowerend and which are respectively rollably received within said first andsecond linear cam tracks; and a drive means operatively connected tosaid wiper arms for reciprocating the wipers across the windshieldsbetween first and second positions, said first and second rollersfollowing the contours of said first and second arcuate and linear camtracks as said wipers are moved between their positions to cause saidwipers to be moved vertically while simultaneously being reciprocated bysaid drive means whereby the wiper blade assemblies are caused to bemoved in the linear path transversely across the windshields.

1. A window-wiping apparatus for wiping a window of an automotivevehicle comprising: a wiper having an elongated wiper arm and a wiperblade assembly carried by the arm at its upper end; and an actuatingmechanism for reciprocating the wiper across the outer surface of thewindow between first and second positions and with the path of movementof the wiper blade assembly being linear and transversely of the window,said actuating mechanism comprising a first cam track disposed below thewindow and whose midportion is spaced further below the window than itsend portions and a second cam track disposed below the first cam trackand extending generally vertically with respect to the window, first andsecond cam followers pivotally connected to said wiper arm and guidablyreceived in said first and second cam tracks, and a drive meansoperatively connected to said wiper arm for moving the wiper between itsfirst and second positions, said first and second cam followersfollowing the contours of said first and second cam tracks to cause thewiper to be moved vertically as it is moved between its positionswhereby the wiper blade assembly moves in a linear path transverselyacross the window.
 2. A window-wiping apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein said first cam track is arcuate and said second cam track islinear.
 3. A window-wiping apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein saidfirst and second cam followers are rollers which are rollably receivedin said first and second cam tracks.
 4. A windshield-wiping apparatusfor wiping a pair of separated windshields of an automotive vehiclecomprising: first and second spaced wipers having elongated wiper armsand wiper blade assemblies carried by the arms at their upper ends;first and second arcuately extending cam tracks disposed below thewindshields and having their midportion spaced further below thewindshields than their end portions; first and second linear cam tracksrespectively disposed below said first and second arcuate cam tracks,said first and second linear cam tracks extending vertically downwardfrom the midportion of said first and second arcuate cam tracks,respectively, a first roller pivotally connected to said first andsecond wiper arms and which are rollably received within said first andsecond arcuate cam tracks, respectively, a second roller pivotallyconnected to said first and second wiper arms at their lower end andwhich are respectively rollably received within said first and secondlinear cam tracks; and a drive means operatively connected to said wiperarms for reciprocating the wipers across the windshields between firstand second positions, said first and second rollers following thecontours of said first and second arcuate and linear cam tracks as saidwipers are moved between their positions to cause said wipers to bemoved vertically while simultaneously being reciprocated by said drivemeans whereby the wiper blade assemblies are caused to be moved in thelinear path transversely across the windshields.